Dates finalized by NCOE Board of Education

The NCOE Board of Education met Wednesday, April 17 and heard from Dr. Cliff Karnes about a recent conference call that he and other area superintendents had with State Superintendent Chris Koch. The call was implemented by Representative David Reis and Senator Dale Righter.

Comment

By Special to the Times

The Carmi Times - Carmi, IL

By Special to the Times

Posted Apr. 24, 2013 at 10:00 AM

By Special to the Times
Posted Apr. 24, 2013 at 10:00 AM

The NCOE Board of Education met Wednesday, April 17 and heard from Dr. Cliff Karnes about a recent conference call that he and other area superintendents had with State Superintendent Chris Koch. The call was implemented by Representative David Reis and Senator Dale Righter.

The superintendents had the opportunity to discuss unequal funding through the state and how unfunded mandates are creating additional workloads for everyone in the schools.

Karnes told the Board that the Governor has asked for state aid funding at 81% and the ISBE has requested 100% so districts will have to wait until a compromise is reached for final entitlement.

Matching state maintenance grants of $50,000 are also available for Life Safety projects until May 31. The use of the grant will be limited so Karnes will check to see if it is feasible to apply and report at the May meeting.

The 2012-2013 calendar was amended to drop the four emergency days at the end of the year. Students will pick up their report cards on Friday May 24. High School Graduation will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, May 17 in the gym. NCO 8th grade will graduate at 6 p.m. Monday, May 20 followed by Booth graduation at 7:30 p.m.

The 2013-2014 calendar was approved also. There will be teacher workshop days Aug. 15 and 16 with the first day of pupil attendance on Monday, Aug.19. The last day of school, if all five emergency days are used, will be June 3, 2014.

The board approved the Senior Trip from May 6-10. Again this year, four students will have the honor to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery. Students will tour Mt. Vernon; several buildings of the Smithsonian Museum; the monuments; have an evening tour of the Capitol with Rep. John Shimkus; and visit Gettysburg and Hershey, Pa. on the way home.

After a 55 minutes closed session, the Board accepted the retirement letters from Leatha Martin and Glenna Thompson, effective at the end of the year. They also accepted the resignations of Brittany Ramsey as NCO cheer coach and Jimmy Foster as NCO basketball coach. Brooklyn Naas was employed as the high school cheer coach for the 2013-14 school year.

In other business the Board-

--Agreed to move funds from Working Cash to Capital Projects to balance that account.

--Held the first reading of several Board policies.

--Will hold a special meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 30 to seat elected board members following the April 9 election.

--Will hold the May meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 14 due to Baccalaureate at 7 p.m. on May 15.